Display and demonstration apparatus



April 5, 1949. c. F. J. DUPUY DISPLAY AND DEMONSTRATION APPARATUS Filed July '3, 1946 Patented Apr. 5, 1949 DISPLAY AND DEMONSTRATION APPARATUS Charles F. J. Dupuy, Chicago, Ill., assignor to O-Cedar Corpn, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 3, 1946, Serial No. 681,159

This invention relates to display and demonstration apparatus and is particularly useful in the demonstration of liquid materials that foam.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus which will effectively demonstrate the foam forming qualities of liquids while at the same time rendering the process continuous by the return of the liquid formed by the condensed or collapsed foam. Yet another object is to provide apparatus of substantially large proportions necessary for the demonstration of the forming of foam while at the same time providing means for the ready assembly and disassembly of the several parts of the apparatus and enabling the parts to be packed in relatively small space for transportation. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side view in elevation, a portion of the apparatus being shown in section; and Fig. 2, a broken vertical sectional View.

In the illustration given, I designates a container such as, for example, a five gallon glass jar or any other suitable container. The container is shown provided with a threaded neck II to which is threadedly secured a collar I2. Integrally formed with the collar I2 is a tray or basin I4 which preferably has sides sloping toward the center of the annular tray. The tray may be formed of metal, plastic material, or any other suitable material. Received within the collar I2 is a column I5, preferably of transparent material, which may extend 6 or '7 feet above the basin I4. The column I5 may be formed of Lucite or any other suitable material, and preferably of a transparent character.

Communicating between the bottom of basin I4 and the interior of collar I2 is a return pipe I6 adapted to return the liquid formed upon the collapsing of foam to the container I0.

Any suitable means for introducing a gas, such as air, into the liquid body for the purpose of forming foam may be employed. In the illustration given, I provide a pipe I1 which extends through the collar I2 and may be connected by a suitable hose I8 or other means to an air compressor or other source of air. Pipe I! terminates in an open end, and the end is enclosed by a mass of wire screen I9 which tends to diffuse the incoming air so that it enters the liquid from widely distributed points and in small portions. The breaking up of the air stream thus facilitates the forming of foam within the liquid body.

2 Claims. (Cl. 35-49) Operation In the operation of the device, the parts are assembled by rotating collar I2 to secure it to. the threaded neck II of container ll! which contains the liquid to be demonstrated. A hose I8 is connected to the pipe I! and leads to an air: compressor, etc. The transparent pipe I5 is them placed within the collar I2. The container I04 may in itself serve as a base for the entire structure or, if desired, any other support for the tray I4 may be employed. If desired, the com tainer l 0 may be provided with a flared or widenedl bottom so as to provide a more extensive base; In normal operation, a screen is placed around the lower portion of basin I I and thus there is exposed to view only the screen, basin or tray I 4, and the transparent column I5. Air is introduced through pipe I! and enters the liquid in dispersed form from the screen [9. The foam that is formed rises upwardly through the neck I I, collar I2 and column IS. The rising current of air carries the bubbles upwardly through the transparent column I5 and they are discharged from the open end of the column, falling downwardly along the outside of column I5 and tending to collect in mounds upon the tray I4. The apparatus thus gives a visual demonstration of the effectiveness of the liquid in forming foam and specific types of foam. For attractive effects, colored lights may be supported above the column I5 so as to cast their rays upon the foam as it falls slowly toward tray I 4.

In the above operation, the foam tends to collapse at points along the outside of column l5 and within the tray I4 and the resultant liquid flows downwardly toward the center of tray I4 and is returned by the pipe I6 to container I0. Thus, there is a continuous process in which foam isv constantly formed and foam forming liquid is; constantly returned to the container. The incoming air stream serves to create the foam and further serves as a means for propelling it up-- wardly through column I5 so that it may be discharged along the outside of column I5.

It will be understood that many other effects may be produced in the display operation, as, for example, by adding tubes formed in letter or design configurations and through which the foam may be passed. It is sufiicient, however, for the purpose of illustrating the invention to show the straight transparent tube I5.

After use of the structure, the column I5 may be Withdrawn from collar I2, and similarly the collar I2 may be detached from the container gral collar I2 formed with the tray I I serves as 5 a simple and effective means for connecting all of the parts together; Thus, there areno screws or bolts or smalhasseiriblyparts fof'stori'ng Upon reaching the next point of demonstration, the

- 4 column removably engaging the upper portion of said collar and supported thereby in a vertical position, an annular tray carried by said collar and equipped with means for returning liquid in said tray to the interior of said collar, and means for discharging air into said liquid to form fdam 'and pipducefia rising; Queen-t er air in said column, sa1-d coluinn being 015er1 at'itstop 2. In apparatus of the character set forth, a

work of assembling the apparatus requires a very w 'chfitainer equipped with a threaded neck, a colfew minutes. I I, J v

The transparent pipe l5 may bese'cur'ea w'i'thi'; in the collar I2 by merely slidably engaging the collar, or the parts may be co'nne'etewby slots anda, 5 I 3 g Y ii'nula'iu pwa-i'dl turned portion forming a basin around said collar; a return pipe between said ribs or by any other suitable means- It will be understood that any foam-forming material may be used; for exampla a'foaxning cleaner solution for rugs and thellke, or soapy water or any other suitable forming materialmat" be used. The apparatus may be used also in cono uid. nection with fire-fighting foam materials in which protein foam stabilizrsfetc are employed.

While in the foregoing specificationI have set forth certain specific apparatusin greatdetail-'- asaillustnative of" one embodiment of my inv'ene tioh,-iit will be un derstood that-suc'h details may 'be 'varied widely by those skilledin the art with outdeparting from thespiritof myc invention'. 1

I claim:

1. In apparatus of ther'characterset fblft 2;'04t' ;398

container equipped with \a thre'add-ne'ck, a"- co lar sthreadedlyiengagihg saidneck,- a' transparent lar threadedlyengaging said neck, a transparent column-telescopically engaging said collar and supported thereby in a vertical position, a tray i "d"integrallylwltlr said collar and having an CHARLES F.'J'. DUPUYi REFEiiifiNCES were U'NlTED STATES Prime-'1 s I rhe renowmg references areof recordm the w -fiieof tli-i'spateri'tr 

